Comments on: 18 ways to increase combat duration http://www.dungeonmastering.com/tools-resources/18-ways-to-increase-combat-duration The D&D Blog Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:54:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Brad http://www.dungeonmastering.com/tools-resources/18-ways-to-increase-combat-duration#comment-8404 Brad Fri, 26 Jun 2009 03:05:19 +0000 http://www.dungeonmastering.com/game-management/18-ways-to-increase-combat-duration#comment-8404 One of my most memorable "long" encounters was with a party around level 5 or so. Basically we were in a cave type dungeon of some sort. Long story short, we eventually wound up fighting an endless horde of zombies. Through certain contexts and clues alluding to limitless magical undead making stuff, we quickly realized that it was -literally- endless and had to escape. We fought through a more manageable group of zombies during our escape, all the while being chased by the endless group. We eventually came to a clearing where there were some boats and a couple of the main-line fighters held off the horde long enough to get away. Oh, and then a dragon showed up. One of my most memorable “long” encounters was with a party around level 5 or so. Basically we were in a cave type dungeon of some sort. Long story short, we eventually wound up fighting an endless horde of zombies. Through certain contexts and clues alluding to limitless magical undead making stuff, we quickly realized that it was -literally- endless and had to escape. We fought through a more manageable group of zombies during our escape, all the while being chased by the endless group. We eventually came to a clearing where there were some boats and a couple of the main-line fighters held off the horde long enough to get away. Oh, and then a dragon showed up.

]]> By: Fishercatt http://www.dungeonmastering.com/tools-resources/18-ways-to-increase-combat-duration#comment-6488 Fishercatt Sun, 11 Jan 2009 14:36:20 +0000 http://www.dungeonmastering.com/game-management/18-ways-to-increase-combat-duration#comment-6488 There has been talk here of changing the environment or changing the enemies. Here's a trick I used once that worked out really well: I gave the enemy the spell "Death Stop Shade". It was a one-time use item, but it was basically a cloud that floated over an enemy's head (think of a cartoon thundercloud over an angry Donald Duck). Anyone within the shade simply could not die. The cloud got smaller each round, and once the enemy's legs had fallen off he could no longer fight with his hands because he was dragging his not-yet-corpse around to stay under the shrinking cloud. It was a bit gruesome, but fun, and allowed the PC's to goof off a bit during a serious fight. There has been talk here of changing the environment or changing the enemies. Here’s a trick I used once that worked out really well: I gave the enemy the spell “Death Stop Shade”. It was a one-time use item, but it was basically a cloud that floated over an enemy’s head (think of a cartoon thundercloud over an angry Donald Duck). Anyone within the shade simply could not die. The cloud got smaller each round, and once the enemy’s legs had fallen off he could no longer fight with his hands because he was dragging his not-yet-corpse around to stay under the shrinking cloud. It was a bit gruesome, but fun, and allowed the PC’s to goof off a bit during a serious fight.

]]> By: Bobo http://www.dungeonmastering.com/tools-resources/18-ways-to-increase-combat-duration#comment-6023 Bobo Sun, 16 Nov 2008 17:28:56 +0000 http://www.dungeonmastering.com/game-management/18-ways-to-increase-combat-duration#comment-6023 When they fight a high level creature have it call out very loudly and attract more creatures to fight and also when they fight like insects there could be a colony of them near by. When they fight a high level creature have it call out very loudly and attract more creatures to fight and also when they fight like insects there could be a colony of them near by.

]]> By: .o. http://www.dungeonmastering.com/tools-resources/18-ways-to-increase-combat-duration#comment-5294 .o. Mon, 28 Jul 2008 17:45:14 +0000 http://www.dungeonmastering.com/game-management/18-ways-to-increase-combat-duration#comment-5294 The WotC article says that the typical monster has an average lifespan of 5 rounds. This is primarily a byproduct of 3.x ed. D&D's emphasis on a single monster (or just a few monsters) in an encounter. So another solution could be, switch to a different system! I would caveat that a lot of the suggested ways to increase a combat's duration could very easily be Not Fun. I have both played through and GMed several of these methods and generally found that more rounds = diminishment of climax. But if the battle lasts long enough, the sense of satisfaction increases. Tricky balance. I would say the key to any increased battle duration is to not let it grind into an "I roll... You roll..." cycle. It's really hard for the GM to sustain excitement after you've described for the 20th time how the drow soldier has missed your character... The best way to prevent the grind was nailed by niggle: change the environment. A variety of ways to do this: 1) give the PCs a reason to move. Maybe one of the combatants is attempting to flee with a needed object - the PCs should pursue into a new area with new tactical considerations. 2) have the environment change on them. Niggle's mechanical/magical mayhem room is a great idea. Is the room sinking? Caving in? Is it some sort of factory with conveyor belts and moving cranes? Slow-flowing lava rolling towards them? 3) give the PCs ways to change the environment. Opening/closing a portcullis, creating barricades or cave-ins, severing a rope bridge, etc. I recently ran a game where the party invaded an ogre lair. The game could have very easily just been a grind of wave after wave of ogres. And it was. Except I gave the party lots of chances to change the environment by withdrawing and pursing to new areas, creating barricades and a cave-in, and then the ogres tried to smoke them out. Hundreds of dice rolls over and over against the same basic monsters for hours on end, but it turned out to be a pretty fun game instead of a drag. The WotC article says that the typical monster has an average lifespan of 5 rounds. This is primarily a byproduct of 3.x ed. D&D’s emphasis on a single monster (or just a few monsters) in an encounter. So another solution could be, switch to a different system!

I would caveat that a lot of the suggested ways to increase a combat’s duration could very easily be Not Fun. I have both played through and GMed several of these methods and generally found that more rounds = diminishment of climax. But if the battle lasts long enough, the sense of satisfaction increases. Tricky balance.

I would say the key to any increased battle duration is to not let it grind into an “I roll… You roll…” cycle. It’s really hard for the GM to sustain excitement after you’ve described for the 20th time how the drow soldier has missed your character… The best way to prevent the grind was nailed by niggle: change the environment.

A variety of ways to do this:

1) give the PCs a reason to move. Maybe one of the combatants is attempting to flee with a needed object – the PCs should pursue into a new area with new tactical considerations.

2) have the environment change on them. Niggle’s mechanical/magical mayhem room is a great idea. Is the room sinking? Caving in? Is it some sort of factory with conveyor belts and moving cranes? Slow-flowing lava rolling towards them?

3) give the PCs ways to change the environment. Opening/closing a portcullis, creating barricades or cave-ins, severing a rope bridge, etc.

I recently ran a game where the party invaded an ogre lair. The game could have very easily just been a grind of wave after wave of ogres. And it was. Except I gave the party lots of chances to change the environment by withdrawing and pursing to new areas, creating barricades and a cave-in, and then the ogres tried to smoke them out. Hundreds of dice rolls over and over against the same basic monsters for hours on end, but it turned out to be a pretty fun game instead of a drag.

]]> By: Know It All DM http://www.dungeonmastering.com/tools-resources/18-ways-to-increase-combat-duration#comment-3370 Know It All DM Tue, 06 May 2008 15:37:22 +0000 http://www.dungeonmastering.com/game-management/18-ways-to-increase-combat-duration#comment-3370 A 16th level Ninja with a +45 Hide, +50 Move Silently and a 47 AC... With a Short Bow. Attack, Hide with -20 = 1d20+25... He he he, now they wish they'd put ranks in spot. A 16th level Ninja with a +45 Hide, +50 Move Silently and a 47 AC… With a Short Bow. Attack, Hide with -20 = 1d20+25… He he he, now they wish they’d put ranks in spot.

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